Monday, January 21, 2013

A waiter stands up for a kid with Down syndrome: props!

In a perfect world, people wouldn't stoop so low as to mock or deride kids with special needs. Not going to happen, because there's no vaccination for ignorance (even then, it would probably only be 67 percent effective). So in a less perfect world, aka the real one, people would at least stand up for our kids when others demean them. That's what happened last week at a Houston restaurant, where a waiter defended this cutie pie with Down syndrome.

Milo Castillo, 5, and his family are regulars at Laurenzo's restaurant; Michael Garcia is a waiter there who usually carries Milo to his table when he arrives. Last Wednesday, according to Garcia, a diner moved his family away from Milo's and made the comment, "Special needs children need to be special somewhere else."

Garcia refused to serve him and when the man said he was leaving Garcia responded, "How could you say that about a beautiful 5-year-old angel?"

Our hero

Happily, the restaurant stood behind him.

This is awesome, though it's so disturbing to read about people this close-minded. Obviously, I have no objectivity whatsoever but I do know that even if I didn't have Max, I would still have a hard time understanding what could compel someone to be so clueless. For shame. I hope that guy is watching all the news on this and squirming his ass off.

If I'd been next to this guy at the restaurant, I would have asked to move to a different table. Ignorant people need to be ignorant somewhere else.

Props, Michael Garcia and Laurenzo's. You've made a difference in this one family's life, and inspired many, many others.

What an awesome waiter and restaurant for standing beside their employee. I cringe to think about what I might do if someone said something like this to my little boy who also has special needs. People are so cruel sometimes.

Thank you for sharing! This story gave me chill bumps. I know we all deal with the looks and stares, but I haven't had many chances to hear someone say something so STUPID. I applaud this restaurant and the waiter. It isn't easy to be in customer service and stand up for what is right. I am sure we have all been put in that position at least once in our lives. It might not be about special needs, but the difference between right and wrong are pretty clear. I applaud the news for bringing this to the forefront too. There are many hero like this out there, we need to recognize them. Reward the behavior we want, right? As for the naysayers and judging ignorant people, you will find out one day what it feels like. Karma is a "BITCH" when you are!!!

I love that waiter! Ellen, did you ever see that episode of "What Would You Do?" that set up a scene with an autistic teen in a restaurant? One actor portrayed a very loud customer criticizing the kid and his parents, and the other customers really stood up for the kid against him.

Thanks Michael Garcia, You are a Hero and a Role Model. Makes me believe that there is still some good people on this earth and gives me hope!!! Cheers to you and the restaurant for doing the right thing:)

Ellen: I love stories like this. When Lindsey was in grade school, some girls spit on her. A popular boy from her class came to her aid. I told a portion of this story on my blog, but I love giving a shout out because he truly improved my daughter's life after that. Scott Von Weller told some girls to quit spitting and to leave Lindsey alone. He never thought he did anything heroic, but to me, it was. I still tear up whenever I think of this day. So of course, my heart goes out to this child, his family, the waiter, and the restaurant. Bad karma will likely go to the mean customer. What goes around, comes around in my book. Thanks for sharing.

This story has been all over the news and I even heard about it on the radio this morning. Tons of props to the waiter and the restaurant for backing him up when he could have easily gotten fired for denying someone service. I, too, have been wondering what this ignorant man thinks about his negative (NATIONAL!) publicity and if it's caused him to re-think his sentiments about special needs kids.

God Bless you Michael Garcia, it is a blessing to know there are still good people out there! You are a HERO! I have a daughter with downs and a son who is autistic!They are my beautiful blessings from God. For some ignorant person to say something like that is sick! I have to say that you handled that better than I would have! Great Job!

Special needs children are just that, "SPECIAL"The diner needs to know, he or his family members are only one accident away from being in the same position or worse. Karma has a way of comming back to you Diner.

Indeed, and if this happened with you in my listening area, you would have been discussed about on the public AM and FM airwaves too. You might as well have insulted my wife and sons, all three who are special needs people and myself who is as well. And you would have gotten embarrassed too, Karma bites those in the rear who misbehave too. Other broadcasters and media folks stand up to their colleagues too. So, even more impact. Smile, loser in that restaurant, You got your ego deflated with more class than you showed that family. And with little or no fanfare, you could be in the same shoes. And it don't feel good either. Think about that.

Michael Garcia is a superb person, his employers just as superb. And both are a class act. And glad Michael had the guts to throw this jerk out of the restaurant. If this restaurant were local, my wife, my sons, and myself would buy dinner in support of Michael, he is our kind of people. All 4 of us are special needs, the wife and I and sons have spina bifida, we are in broadcasting, and we eat out with ourselves and our clients. And we spend money entertaining clients. And we are educated people. Thanks for Michael for his friendliness and inclusion. The world could learn a lot about human relations and customer service from Michael. We adore him. So should you.